Abstract: A conductive line structure includes two conductive lines in a layout. The two cut lines are over at least a part of the two conductive lines in the layout. The cut lines designate cut sections of the two conductive lines and the cut lines are spaced from each other within a fabrication process limit. The two cut lines are connected in the layout. The two conductive lines are patterned over a substrate in a physical integrated circuit using the two connected parallel cut lines. The two conductive lines are electrically conductive.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes two elongated active regions that include source/drain regions for multiple transistor devices, a first contact layer that includes an electrical connection between the two active regions, a second contact layer that includes a connection between two gate lines, and a gate contact layer that provides connections to the gate lines.

Abstract: A method for mask optimization, the method including moving any features of a gate contact mask that are in violation of a spacing rule to a second layer contact mask, splitting an elongated feature of the second layer mask that is too close to a feature moved to the second layer mask from the gate contact mask, and connecting two split features of a first layer contact mask, the split features corresponding to the elongated feature of the second layer mask.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip has a plurality of gate structures arranged over a substrate. A plurality of first MOL (middle-of-line) structures are arranged at a first pitch over the substrate at locations interleaved between the plurality of gate structures. The plurality of first MOL structures connect active regions within the substrate to an overlying metal interconnect layer. A plurality of second MOL structures are arranged at a second pitch over the plurality of gate structures at locations interleaved between the plurality of first MOL structures. The plurality of second MOL structures connect the plurality of gate structures to the metal interconnect layer. The second pitch is different than the first pitch. The different pitches avoid misalignment errors between the plurality of gate structures and the metal interconnect layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a non-conductive gate feature over a substrate, and a metal gate electrode over the substrate. The metal gate electrode comprises a portion over an active region of the substrate, and a portion over an isolation feature of the substrate ending at an end cap. A vertical profile of the metal gate electrode at the end cap matches a vertical profile of the metal gate electrode in the portion over the active region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of generating a scaled integrated chip design by scaling a FEOL and a BEOL of an original IC design at different scaling ratios, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by forming an original integrated chip (IC) design that is a graphical representation of an integrated chip. The original IC design has a front-end-of-the-line (FEOL) section, a back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) section, and a middle-of-the-line (MOL) section that is disposed between the FEOL and BEOL sections. A scaled integrated chip design is formed by scaling (i.e., shrinking) the FEOL section and the BEOL section of the original integrated chip design at different scaling ratios, and by scaling different design layers within the MOL section at different scaling ratios to avoid misalignment errors between the FEOL section and the BEOL section.

Abstract: A post placement abutment treatment for cell row design is provided. In an embodiment a first cell and a second cell are placed in a first cell row and a third cell and a fourth cell are placed into a second cell row. After placement vias connecting power and ground rails to the underlying structures are analyzed to determine if any can be merged or else removed completely. By merging and removing the closely placed vias, the physical limitations of photolithography may be by-passed, allowing for smaller structures to be formed.

Abstract: A conductive line structure includes two conductive lines in a layout. The two cut lines are over at least a part of the two conductive lines in the layout. The cut lines designate cut sections of the two conductive lines and the cut lines are spaced from each other within a fabrication process limit. The two cut lines are connected in the layout. The two conductive lines are patterned over a substrate in a physical integrated circuit using the two connected parallel cut lines. The two conductive lines are electrically conductive.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more systems and techniques for defining one or more implant regions or for doping a semiconductor arrangement are provided. A first implant region is defined based upon a first implant mask overlaying a first active region of a semiconductor arrangement. A second implant region is defined based upon the first implant mask and a second implant mask overlaying a second active region of the semiconductor arrangement. A third implant region is defined based upon the second implant mask overlaying a third active region of the semiconductor arrangement. One or more doping processes are performed through the first implant mask and the second implant mask to dope the semiconductor arrangement. Because the first implant mask and the second implant mask overlap the second active region, doping area coverage is improved thus mitigating undesirable voltage threshold variations otherwise resulting from inadequate doping area coverage.

Abstract: A method includes placing two conductive lines in a layout. Two cut lines are placed over at least a part of the two conductive lines in the layout. The cut lines designate cut sections of the two conductive lines and the cut lines are spaced from each other within a fabrication process limit. The two cut lines are connected in the layout. The two conductive lines are patterned over a substrate in a physical integrated circuit using the two connected parallel cut lines. The two conductive lines are electrically conductive.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more systems and techniques for defining one or more implant regions or for doping a semiconductor arrangement are provided. A first implant region is defined based upon a first implant mask overlaying a first active region of a semiconductor arrangement. A second implant region is defined based upon the first implant mask and a second implant mask overlaying a second active region of the semiconductor arrangement. A third implant region is defined based upon the second implant mask overlaying a third active region of the semiconductor arrangement. One or more doping processes are performed through the first implant mask and the second implant mask to dope the semiconductor arrangement. Because the first implant mask and the second implant mask overlap the second active region, doping area coverage is improved thus mitigating undesirable voltage threshold variations otherwise resulting from inadequate doping area coverage.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for designing the layout of integrated circuits or other semiconductor devices while directly accessing design rules and a library of design features by interfacing with a GUI upon which the design layout is displayed. The design rules may be directly linked to the design features of the pattern library and imported into the device layout. The design rules may be directly accessed while designing the layout or while conducting a design rule check and the design features from the pattern library may be used in creating the layout.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of generating a scaled integrated chip design by scaling a FEOL and a BEOL of an original IC design at different scaling ratios, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by forming an original integrated chip (IC) design that is a graphical representation of an integrated chip. The original IC design has a front-end-of-the-line (FEOL) section, a back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) section, and a middle-of-the-line (MOL) section that is disposed between the FEOL and BEOL sections. A scaled integrated chip design is formed by scaling (i.e., shrinking) the FEOL section and the BEOL section of the original integrated chip design at different scaling ratios, and by scaling different design layers within the MOL section at different scaling ratios to avoid misalignment errors between the FEOL section and the BEOL section.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more systems and techniques for defining one or more implant regions or for doping a semiconductor arrangement are provided. A first implant region is defined based upon a first implant mask overlaying a first active region of a semiconductor arrangement. A second implant region is defined based upon the first implant mask and a second implant mask overlaying a second active region of the semiconductor arrangement. A third implant region is defined based upon the second implant mask overlaying a third active region of the semiconductor arrangement. One or more doping processes are performed through the first implant mask and the second implant mask to dope the semiconductor arrangement. Because the first implant mask and the second implant mask overlap the second active region, doping area coverage is improved thus mitigating undesirable voltage threshold variations otherwise resulting from inadequate doping area coverage.

Abstract: A method for mask optimization, the method including moving any features of a gate contact mask that are in violation of a spacing rule to a second layer contact mask, splitting an elongated feature of the second layer mask that is too close to a feature moved to the second layer mask from the gate contact mask, and connecting two split features of a first layer contact mask, the split features corresponding to the elongated feature of the second layer mask.

Abstract: A method includes placing two conductive lines in a layout. Two cut lines are placed over at least a part of the two conductive lines in the layout. The cut lines designate cut sections of the two conductive lines and the cut lines are spaced from each other within a fabrication process limit. The two cut lines are connected in the layout. The two conductive lines are patterned over a substrate in a physical integrated circuit using the two connected parallel cut lines. The two conductive lines are electrically conductive.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for designing the layout of integrated circuits or other semiconductor devices while directly accessing design rules and a library of design features by interfacing with a GUI upon which the design layout is displayed. The design rules may be directly linked to the design features of the pattern library and imported into the device layout. The design rules may be directly accessed while designing the layout or while conducting a design rule check and the design features from the pattern library may be used in creating the layout.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for designing the layout of integrated circuits or other semiconductor devices while directly accessing design rules and a library of design features by interfacing with a GUI upon which the design layout is displayed. The design rules may be directly linked to the design features of the pattern library and imported into the device layout. The design rules may be directly accessed while designing the layout or while conducting a design rule check and the design features from the pattern library may be used in creating the layout.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for designing the layout of integrated circuits or other semiconductor devices while directly accessing design rules and a library of design features by interfacing with a GUI upon which the design layout is displayed. The design rules may be directly linked to the design features of the pattern library and imported into the device layout. The design rules may be directly accessed while designing the layout or while conducting a design rule check and the design features from the pattern library may be used in creating the layout.

Abstract: An integrated circuit has functional circuitry coupled to a terminal. An electrostatic discharge protector can be coupled to the terminal to protect the functional circuitry from an electrostatic discharge. A substrate includes a first semiconductor material with a first dopant type. A plurality of drain segments adjoin the substrate. Each of the drain segments has a first conductor, a second conductor, and a third conductor. A central via set in a central region of the drain segment couples the second conductor to the third conductor. A peripheral via set in a peripheral region of the drain segment couples the first conductor to the second conductor. A plurality of source segments adjoin the substrate and laterally interlace with the drain segments.